Knowsley

Knowsley's population shrunk between the last two censuses. At the same time there were changes in average age, religion and marriage.

The population decreased

In the decade to 2011, the population of Knowsley fell by 3.0%, from about 150,000 to 146,000.

The loss of almost 5,000 people means this area's population was the third-most rapidly-declining in the North West and was the fourth most rapidly-declining across England.

In 2011, Knowsley was home to, on average, 12 people per football pitch-sized piece of land (about 7,140 square metres).

Population density was higher than the average across the North West

Population density (usual residents per 7,140 square metres) across the North West, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Knowsley

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Knowsley increased by four years, from 36 to 40 years.

This industrial area had a slightly higher average age than the North West and became slightly older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of about 3,700 people between the ages of 50 and 59 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by just under 7,000.

About 14% of people in Knowsley are aged between 50 and 59 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, North West and Knowsley by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in Knowsley

The number of people in Knowsley that described themselves as Christian increased from just under 130,000 in 2001 to about 120,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 86% to 81% of the local population.

The percentage decreased by less than the average across the North West (from 78% to 67%) and the average across England (from 72% to 59%).

The number of people in Knowsley that described themselves as having no religion increased from just under 8,800 in 2001 to just over 18,000 in 2011 (from 5.8% to 13%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation decreased from just over 12,000 to about 8,300 (from 8.1% to 5.7%).

About 440 people (0.2%) said they were Muslim, up from about 260 in 2001 (0.3%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the religious profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between religious groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population who identified as Christian in Knowsley decreased by 4.7 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, North West and Knowsley by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in rate of self-employment

The percentage of Knowsley residents that were self-employed increased from 4.2% to 5.9% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just over one in two (50%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were employed, compared with 45% in 2001. The percentage of Knowsley residents that were unemployed increased from 5.9% to 6.5%.

The proportion of self-employed people increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 7.1% in 2001 to 8.2% in 2011). Across England, the proportion increased from 8.2% to 9.7%.

The rate of self-employment in Knowsley increased by 1.6 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Knowsley, the North West and England that said they were self-employed, March 2001 and March 2011

More homes with adult children living with their parents

This area saw the North West's largest rise in the proportion of households with adult children living with their parents.

Across the region, Sefton saw the next largest increase in the proportion of households with adult children living with their parents (from 12% in 2001 to 13% in 2011).

In 2011, just over one in seven (14%) households in Knowsley had only adult children living with their parents, compared with 13% in 2001. The percentage with at least one child decreased from 35% to 32%.

The proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents was higher than across the North West

Percentage of households that where a parent lived with their adult children across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, March 2011

Knowsley stood out from other areas for housing

In Knowsley, the proportion went up from 61% in 2001 to 62% in 2011. During the same period, the regional proportion fell from 69% to 65%.

Private renting in Knowsley increased from 4.2% to 9.8%, while the rate of social housing decreased from 31% to 27%.

The rate of home ownership was lower than across the North West

Percentage of households that that owner their home across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, March 2011

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Area report data

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